Christmas in most homes
begins on the evening of
December 24th, where
excited young children
are encouraged to go to
bed early so as not to
miss out on gifts from
Santa Claus.

Christmas Eve in Canada
is a combination of a
lot of traditions. Some
families open presents
Christmas Eve night,
many go to church, or
have different dinners,
like ham, goose, etc.
Some Christmas Eve
traditions across Canada
include:

Labrador and
Newfoundland:
During Christmas
week it is customary
for the folks to
"fish for the
church". They bring
their catch to be
sold for the local
parish. For
Christmas Eve
services, the
children enjoy
receiving little
lighted candles
standing in a turnip
that has been
specially saved from
the harvest for this
use.

Nova Scotia:
In the part of Cape
Breton country,
settled by Scottish
highlanders, the
psalms are read on
Christmas morning.
In other places,
people sing old
songs and carols.

Vancouver:
Brightly illuminated
Christmas trees glow
in the homes, on the
lawns, and in the
squares of this
Western city.

In some parts of Canada,
there is a belief that
on Christmas Eve, the
dead rise up from their
graves and kneel at the
foot of the cemetery
cross where they are
awaited by the previous
parish priest wearing a
white surplice and
golden stole. The priest
says the prayers for the
Nativity aloud and the
departed respond
reverently. Once the
mass is finished, the
dead rise, look
longingly at the village
and the house where they
were born, then silently
return to their coffins.

Traditions in other
parts of the world
include;

The idea that
animals have the
power of speech at
midnight on
Christmas Eve. This
superstition exists
in various parts of
Europe, and no one
can hear the beasts
talk with impunity.

There is also a
French belief that
on Christmas Eve,
while the genealogy
of Christ is being
chanted at the
Midnight Mass,
hidden treasures are
revealed.

In Russia all sorts
of buried treasures
are supposed to be
revealed on the
evenings between
Christmas and the
Epiphany, and on the
eves of these
festivals the
heavens are opened,
and the waters of
springs and rivers
turn into wine.